St. F.X. rallies for former player

A name from St. Francis Xavier’s basketball has been swept up in international affairs in Africa and his friends are rallying to his aid.

Guy Mbongo, one of three X-Men players from the Central African Republic who helped the team to a national title 20 years ago, has been displaced by political turmoil in his native country.

Mbongo had been living and working as a customs officer in the capital of Bangui. A married father of three, Mbongo and his family had to go into hiding after armed rebels took over the government three weeks ago following the ouster of President Francois Bozize.

Richard Bella, who along with Mbongo and Aristide Nguilibet helped the X-Men to the 1993 championship, has been in touch with his friend and former teammate.

Bella lived in Halifax until five years ago when he moved to London, Ont., for work. His parents and 13 siblings are also living in peril in the Central African Republic.

“The rebels took over the government and there is a lot of looting going on,” Bella said in an interview Friday. “A lot of people were targets and Guy was one of them.

“Basically you’ve got rebels with guns going to your house and they ask for the keys to your vehicles and then empty your house. That happened to Guy and happened to three of my siblings also.”

The United Nations has warned this week that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the country in the wake of the upheaval.

“Communities affected by the crisis are in urgent need of food assistance, protection, healthcare, and water and sanitation support and there are serious concerns about widespread human rights violations across the country,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a media release this week.

“The ongoing humanitarian efforts have been hampered by insecurity and limited access to people in need,” the release went on to say.

It called on all parties to assist aid workers who need to reach affected communities with relief items.

As of last week, more than 40,000 people had fled the country.

“Guy is in hiding and now he is in a safe place back home,” said Bella. “But he can’t move as a regular citizen.”

Bella said he has spoken to Mbongo, but communication with friends and family is sporadic. Both played in the 1988 Olympics for their country.

“He’s doing OK even though things are really tough,” he said. “But he’s holding his own.”

It’s the ongoing instability that concerns Bella the most. “There are guns everywhere,” he said.

Henry Johnston, a long-time X-Men supporter and friend of Mbongo, along with former X-Men player Joseph Odhiambo has helped lead a drive within the X-Men community to raise some funds.

“As a basketball player, many remember Guy scored 26 points against a tough University of Calgary frontcourt in the 1993 CIS national quarter-final at the Halifax Metro Centre en route to St. F.X.’s first national championship,” said a letter sent to all X-Men basketball alumni and supporters.

“As a person, many remember Guy’s big, friendly smile and larger-than-life personality. During his time in Canada, he worked diligently to learn a new language, integrate himself into the local community and graduate from St. F.X. Everyone, especially kids, loved Guy.”

A webpage has been established at gofundme.com to help collect donations to assist the Mbongo family.